I love America. America has made my fortune.

[Anders]

Code of Honor (Omerta): "Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without police protection is both. It is as cowardly to betray an offender to justice, even though his offences be against yourself, as it is not to avenge an injury by violence. It is dastardly and contemptible in a wounded man to betray the name of his assailant, because if he recovers, he must naturally expect to take vengeance himself."

-10? -15?

[vicky_molokh]

More like -5 to -10, depending on strictness of adherence. IMHO.

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

Code of Honor (Omerta): "Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of himself without police protection is both. It is as cowardly to betray an offender to justice, even though his offences be against yourself, as it is not to avenge an injury by violence. It is dastardly and contemptible in a wounded man to betray the name of his assailant, because if he recovers, he must naturally expect to take vengeance himself."

-10? -15?

-15 for someone who really follows it. It imposes some serious potential disadvantages for someone who follows it in both spirit and letter.

Of course, it would matter what kind of person held it. A person who held that code, but lived a non-violent, ordinary sort of life where it rarely came into play, for him/her it might be worth only -5. It might even be no more than a Quirk.

For someone who is reasonably likely to have it come into play, -15 is reasonable for serious adherence.

[Anders]

I should add that the title of the thread is the first words in the Godfather. Perhaps not everyone gets that. :D

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

I should add that the title of the thread is the first words in the Godfather. Perhaps not everyone gets that. :D

I caught it.

The thing is, gaming-wise, adherence to this code, over time, by someone in a position where it matters much, can easily be lethal. It also limits various tactical options against rivals, and limits your ability to deal with the law when you get nabbed. The obligation of revenge also means you may have to start more trouble even after the first trouble is over, with the associated risks (plus the risk of still more cycles of payback from the other side even if you succeed).

To really follow the code is a high-cost proposition. That's why real-world organized crime generally doesn't follow it.

[aesir23]

I think it depends pretty heavily on the society.

In modern, Western society police are readily available, competent, and numerous. They are potentially very useful. -15.

In rural Southern India, where I'm living right now, police are few, underfunded, and hard to contact unless you're at a train or bus station, or near their headquarters. When offenders are brought to justice, it is often by a mob of civilians who physically detain the subject until police can be reached. Police aren't much of an asset, but it's still expected that they'll be involved if a crime (especially a violent crime) is committed. -10

In many other times and places (the old west, the middle ages, post-apocalypse Australia), there simply isn't organized law enforcement in every town, and people are used to handling things themselves or relying on mob justice. -5.

If you also won't rely on your friends, neighbors, and family for help, it could easily be -15 in all societies.

[Anders]

It's in the U.S. during Prohibition. Anachronistic?

[Jonas]

Sounds like a good set of rules to start and perpetuate multi-generational blood feuds. Given such a system I'd assume there would be some way to 'make peace' rather then acts of vengeance as otherwise such a spiraling cycle would only end with the total destruction of all but one of the involved parties.

[Lord Carnifex]

I'd go with -15. It's at least as restrictive and dangerous as the listed Chivalric code of honor. Balancing it out a little bit is that after one or two public demonstrations of such a code, a character will earn the Made Man advantage: probably a positive Reputation at the very least.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Jonas

Sounds like a good set of rules to start and perpetuate multi-generational blood feuds. Given such a system I'd assume there would be some way to 'make peace' rather then acts of vengeance as otherwise such a spiraling cycle would only end with the total destruction of all but one of the involved parties.

Like any code duello allowance is made for those who wish to apologize for the offense.